This episode archive includes gear deep-dives, synth setups, MIDI puzzles, wiring disasters, and the occasional small victory. Each year is organized into a season. Click any title to watch the episode and download companion PDFs when available.
Why I Filmed an Unboxing of a Phone Charger During this series, I filmed an unboxing of a phone charger. Yes—a phone charger. On the surface, that probably makes no sense at all for a studio-focused YouTube channel. It’s not exciting, it doesn’t blink, it doesn’t...
When “This Has to Go” Becomes a Studio Staple In a previous post, I mentioned how this channel is a little different. I unboxed a phone charger on camera—and in the very next video, it was a trackball mouse. Not exactly headline material for a studio channel, but...
When the Hardest Studio Decision Is… a Chair When you’re faced with a critical decision, what do you do? Alright—critical might be a stretch in this case. This one’s about a chair. Somewhere along the way, I’ve clearly lost touch with what you’re “supposed” to...
From Cassette to Silicon: Watching Technology Pass Me By (and Pull Me Along) In a previous post, I mentioned how much technology has changed since my very first home studio. Back then, it consisted of two keyboards, an 8-track cassette recorder, and a Yamaha music...
When Waiting Is Worth It You know when waiting is worth it. I know the subject of Behringer can be a hot topic for some. It isn’t for me—but I can’t tell this story without mentioning them, because they play a meaningful role in how my studio came together. If...
Idea vs. Execution This post is a bit of a companion to the last one—about the gear you waited years to get versus the gear you wanted once and then quietly forgot about. But this time, I’m not writing from a place of resolution. I don’t have an answer yet. I’m...
Customization or Hacks? Designing—or reimagining—your home studio can mean almost anything. For some, it’s simply moving a few things around. For others, it’s full-on construction: new walls, new floors, new electrical, custom furniture, acoustic treatment, and...
From Toys to Tools What I once thought were toys, I no longer do. For a long time, I associated small keyboards with novelty. Cheap. Limited. Something meant for beginners or kids—certainly not serious instruments. As someone whose professional life revolves around...
Managing Space in a Small, Gear-Heavy Studio Working in a small studio space while owning a fair amount of gear can be tricky—sometimes very tricky. Making a studio feel clean, efficient, and visually pleasing when every square foot matters is no small task. In one...
Watching Other Studios: What You Notice Changes Over Time It’s both a hobby and a fascination of mine—I really enjoy watching videos of what other people are doing in their home recording studios. Big studios, small studios, private rooms, commercial spaces—it...
Each issue of Illustrious Sound brings together the blog articles you see here into a curated, downloadable PDF magazine. Whether you’re a music teacher, student, or just love learning about the creative side of music and audio, this free magazine is a great way to dive deeper. No email signup required—just click and enjoy.